By Vanessa M.

Have you ever thanked Allah (swt) for your hands? Have you thanked Him for these beautiful lumps of clay, formed with five fingers each? Have you thanked him for these tools so essential to doing so many things, from using them to put a morsel of food to one’s mouth to raising them in dua?

How often do we take for granted our ability to cleanse our souls with wudu, to hold the Quran while cherishing each simple turn of a page, or to raise our hands in dua to beg forgiveness for ourselves and humanity?

Gratitude and humility

I was complaining recently about having a lack of energy; mid-sentence, I felt hot with shame because of my selfishness, remembering words from an article I’d read hours earlier. The article had been written by a sister who’d wished she had the strength to simply raise her hands in dua.

Once again I’m left pondering this blessing of humility that Allah (swt) has given me. How can we remain humble and use our hands for good, to please and worship Allah (swt)?

The Quran is our guide, the guide we need to be of those who hold our records in our right hands with glowing faces as Allah (swt), the Most Merciful, the Most Forgiving, grants us Paradise for eternity, in shaa allah!

Use your hands to fight the good fight!

Allah (swt) loves those who do good. He loves them so much that He’s willing to allow them the chance to repent, the opportunity to do good, and even one more second to say alhamdulillah. We may not be fighting one another with our fists, but are we really helping one another as much as we could be?

Have you not seen those who were told, “Restrain your hands [from fighting] and establish prayer and give zakah”? [Quran, 4:77]

There is unrest and turmoil all over the world. We hear about the fighting and shake our heads as we learn of innocent lives lost, as we witness the suffering and the destruction that comes in the wake of Shaytan’s war.  Instead of being in despair, raise your hands and make dua! Allah (swt) can make the impossible possible, so let’s pray for peace!

Use your hands to work for Jannah!

We must work hard for our eternal future. Think of all the time we spend conducting research or typing papers for school, doing daily tasks at work to earn a living, or halfheartedly cooking or cleaning our homes. Now think about the time you spend remembering, thanking, and worshipping the One who blessed us with these tasks and the ability to complete them!

(These are) they whose labor is lost in this world’s life and they think that they are well versed in skill of the work of hands. [Quran, 18:104]

We must turn all of those mundane, boring, and undesirable tasks into acts of worship. How, you wonder? By clearing the intentions in our hearts and living every moment humbly remembering Allah (swt), we can make room for His blessings and feel happy and content that we are not wasting too much time preparing for the uncertainty of this dunya.

Use your hands to make a difference!

Have you ever been at the right place at the right time, when someone needed help and you were there to offer a hand? This is no coincidence; it is Allah (swt) blessing you with the opportunity to do a good deed.

And spend in the way of Allah and do not throw [yourselves] with your [own] hands into destruction [by refraining]. And do good; indeed, Allah loves the doers of good. [Quran 2:195]

Don’t be shy to offer someone help. If they need it, they will most certainly be accepting and, in shaa allah, grateful. Maybe you don’t have much money, but even offering an encouraging word, splitting your small lunch with someone who has none, or making dua for a family who is struggling will be worth something in the eyes of Allah (swt). Through you, maybe someone’s prayers will be answered, masha Allah!

Our hands are simple yet intricate creations that make life a lot easier. We often think of how difficult it would be to live without sight, but how difficult would it be to live life without our hands? Alhamdulillah, we are so very blessed! Let us raise our hands in dua right now for someone, anyone, who is in need and be thankful that we are able to do so.

May Allah (swt) keep us steadfast and may He never loosen his hold on our hands or our hearts, as we so desperately need His strength!

Let there be no compulsion in religion: Truth stands out clear from Error: whoever rejects evil and believes in Allah hath grasped the most trustworthy hand-hold, that never breaks. And Allah heareth and knoweth all things. [Quran 2:256]

Please pray for all of those who are suffering, and make dua for those who are weak and in pain that they may have comfort and peace.

Praying you will benefit.

May Allah (swt) bless our sister who helped me to learn and be inspired by her ability to lose her fear of death and be grateful. Read her story.